Principles of Flight Key Formulae

Lift
2 2
L = CL V S where V = dynamic pressure
CL = lift coefficient

Drag (Profile)
2
D = CD V S where CD = drag coefficient

Induced Drag
2
k
CDi = CL where CDi = induced drag coefficient
A
CL = lift coefficient
A = aspect ratio
k = induced drag factor (equals 1 for elliptical lift distribution)
2
therefore CDi is proportional to CL

Relation between weight and stalling speed

new weight
VS (new weight) = VS (old weight)
old weight
For a small change in weight the percentage increase in stalling speed is approximately half the percentage
increase in weight.

e.g. if percentage increase in weight is 20%, percentage increase in stalling speed is approximately 10%

VMD and other significant speeds are fixed fractions of VS, therefore small changes in weight affect these
speeds in a similar manner.

e.g. 10% increase in weight = 5% increase in stalling speed and VMD

Load factor in a turn

1
n= where = angle of bank
cos

Relation between stalling speed and load factor (n)

VS (n) = VS (1g) n

Effect of gusts on the load factor (given increase in CL due to a gust)

C
Load factor (n) in a gust: nnew = nold Lnew where CLnew = old CL + CL increase
C Lold
The above formula gives the load factor when you are given the increase in lift coefficient due to a gust. If you
are asked for the increase in load factor (i.e. the new load factor will be greater than 1) you must subtract 1.

CATS 25 January 2010 1 POF Formulae and Graphs

Stalling speed in a turn

1
VS (turn) = VS (1g) where = angle of bank
cos

Calculation of stalling speed as bank angle changes

cos (old )
VS (new ) = VS (old )
cos (new )

Design manoeuvre speed

VA = VS (1g) lim iting n

Calculation of VA following change in weight

new weight
VA (new weight) = VA (old weight)
old weight

Radius of turn

V2 2
r= metres where g = 9.81 m/s
g tan
V = speed in m/s
= angle of bank

Rate of turn

g tan 2
rate = radians/sec where g = 9.81 m/s
V
V = speed in m/s
= angle of bank

1 radian = 57.3
g tan
rate of turn in degrees/sec = 57.3
V

Note: rate of turn and radius of turn are NOT affected by weight, only by speed and angle of bank

kts x 0.515 = m/sec

CATS 25 January 2010 2 POF Formulae and Graphs

 Principles of Flight Key Graphs

CATS 25 January 2010 3 POF Formulae and Graphs


CATS 25 January 2010 4 POF Formulae and Graphs